Five to Try: School Holiday Adventures

From a special ballet to spending a day with the animals of Melbourne Zoo, there are only a few days left to take advantage of some of Melbourne’s special activities for the kids.

Let's Draw at the NGV

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Patrick Pound: The Great Exhibition

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Wild at the Melbourne Museum

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Published on 12 April 2017

by Katya Wachtel

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Let’s Draw at the NGVThe National Gallery of Victoria holds more than 70,000 works of art and precious objects from around the world, and Let’s Draw brings the kids in to draw them. Through activities and exercises, kids will learn about some of the artists in the NGV’s collection, such as Giambattista Tiepolo and John Brack, as well as popular motifs like flowers and animals. Collect activity sheets and pencils from the information desk at NGV International or NGV Australia and get sketching. Recommended for children aged four to 10. Free.

NGV International and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia.
Thu April 13 at 10am, and Fri April 14 at 10am.

Patrick Pound’s Great Expedition for Kids at NGV AustraliaPatrick Pound: The Great Exhibition is now showing at the NGV as part of its Festival of Photography. Pound doesn’t take photographs – he collects them, scouring op-shops and eBay for artefacts and then grouping them together in captivating collections (lamps, twins, people, reading). He’s also created an activity trail that takes children on an expedition through the show. With a map in hand, kids can roam through the exhibition completing fun activities and making surprising discoveries. Free.

The Nutcracker in Storytime at the Australian BalletThe Australian Ballet’s Storytime program caters to the youngest ballet fans with classics in an interactive, narrated 50-minute production. At the moment The Nutcracker is showing, and the event is designed for children aged three and up. Tickets are $37 to $47.

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Fabulous Fauna at Melbourne MuseumThe Wild exhibit at Melbourne Museum features more than 600 animals, from mammals to reptiles to birds, including some specimens that have been part of the museum's collection for more than 100 years. In Fabulous Fauna kids will get to know some of these animals a little better, by creating and constructing an animal, then recording and classifying it according to its diet and environment. They’ll be able to display their animal in its natural habitat or one of the museum’s mini galleries, and snap a photo to keep. Free.

Melbourne Museum (Foyer)Sat April 1 to Mon April 17 April, 11am–3pm

Go Wild at the Melbourne ZooIf your kid would prefer to spend time with some real animals, Go Wild involves a full day at the zoo. Over the day, different keepers will talk about specific animals, plus there’s a range of games and interactive activities with all the other kids at the event. Tickets are $99 ($89 for members). Check the website for information for important information on what kids need to bring with them for the day. (If your kid can’t make an all-day activity, Meet the Keeper talks gives kids the opportunity to hear about different animals – from elephants to seals to giant tortoises to meerkats – from their keepers at different times from 10.30am to 3.30pm each day.)